HAMMOND, Ind. (AP)
- Seven names being considered for the consolidation of Purdue University’s
Calumet and North Central regional campuses share a decidedly maritime
theme.

The suggestions
being considered by the new campus’ Unification Committee include Purdue
University Lakefront and Purdue University South Shore. Others have
suggested following the university’s name with these monikers: Lake
Michigan, Lake Shore, Lakeshore, Lakeside or Shoreline.

Students, faculty,
staff, alumni and others were invited to participate in a survey on the
seven names April 16-21, The (Munster) Times reported. Results will go
before the Unification Committee on May 9 along with other suggestions and
comments. Suggestions are still being accepted.

However, some are
not satisfied with the naming process so far. The Purdue Calumet chapter of
the American Association of University Professors sent a letter to Calumet
Chancellor Thomas Keon and North Central Chancellor James Dworkin saying the
committee was not adhering to a process outlined in its first meeting.

“Considering the
secretive and non-participatory manner in which the unification as a whole
was conceived and announced, we had hoped that PUC administrators and
members of the Unification Committee would be careful to show faculty, staff
and students how much their input was valued as unification moves forward.
It is not too late to do so,” the letter said.

The merger of the
administrations of the two campuses about 35 miles apart in northwestern
Indiana was announced in February following directives by Purdue’s Board of
Trustees and university President Mitch Daniels to cut administrative costs.
The Calumet campus in Hammond has about 9,500 students, and the North
Central campus in Westville has about 5,500 students.

The name selection
is an ongoing process, Purdue Calumet spokesman Wes Lukoshus said.

“The overall
selection process being used is based on best practices in marketing and
naming of an organization,” Lukoshus said in an email.

The Unification
Committee will continue reviewing options until it is satisfied with one or
more names to recommend to the Board of Trustees, Lukoshus said.